Manchester United fans were clearly unhappy with Jesse Lingard‘s input, or rather the lack of it during his side’s 1-1 draw with Wolves.
The versatile attacker was the least impressive out of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s front four with even Daniel James playing better.
Lingard was allowed to feature in his preferred position as an attacking-midfielder but failed to provide any evidence that he’s a capable playmaker.
It’s clear Solskjaer has been selecting the academy product due to his pace and his work-rate in terms of pressing but United needed more against a stubborn and deep Wolves defence.
Although fans are currently on his case, when in form Lingard is a useful player but it was clear even in pre-season that something isn’t quite right with him just yet.
Did Jesse Lingard score or assist a PL goal?
May 2018: no
Aug 2018: no
Sep 2018: no
Oct 2018: no
Nov 2018: no
Dec 2018: YES (4G 2A)
Jan 2019: no
Feb 2019: no
Mar 2019: no
Apr 2019: no
May 2019: no
Aug 2019: no pic.twitter.com/YGP1XOAIOg— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) August 19, 2019
Apart from pressing, what does Lingard offer?
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) August 19, 2019
Lingard has been dreadful tonight, really really poor, Utd can't afford to keep carrying him.
— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) August 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/utdrobbo/status/1163554922694086658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1163554922694086658&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252Futdrobbo%252Fstatus%252F1163554922694086658%26widget%3DTweet
Lingard offers nothing to this team apart from running and pressing.
We need an upgrade there. #MUFC— Mr. Tosin Akingba™ (@venusakingba) August 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/Warren_MUFC/status/1163550274725785601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1163550274725785601&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252FWarren_MUFC%252Fstatus%252F1163550274725785601%26widget%3DTweet
It could be that Solskjaer feels he has a lack of attacking options and so is almost forced to play Lingard but if that’s the case then Manchester United need to address that weakness quickly this winter.
With reports emerging of Alexis Sanchez potentially leaving for Inter Milan, it may actually make sense to hold onto him until such a player is brought in.
Either way, a draw against a difficult team away from home isn’t the worst result but it was certainly a missed opportunity to make an early statement.